Exchange Visitor Visa

Last Updated on 2023-06-25

Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1 visa) is a non-immigrant visa category that is typically used for academic exchange programs, research scholars, professors, and other educational and cultural exchange activities. If you have been accepted into an academic exchange program, such as a student exchange program or a research program, you may be eligible to apply for a J-1 visa. This article will provide a brief overview of the J-1 visa application process for academic exchange purposes, including the application for dependents.

DS-2019

Once you are accepted into an exchange program, your sponsor will issue a DS-2019 form, also known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. This form is required for your J-1 visa application. This document will be essential when you live in the U.S., such as opening a bank account and applying for a driver’s license.

Application Materials for DS-2019:

• English proficiency proof
• Financial proof
• Passport

The DS-2019 form includes the following information:

• School or institution information: This includes the name, address, and contact details of the school or institution issuing the DS-2019.
• Student or intern information: This includes the personal details of the student or intern, such as their full name, date of birth, nationality, gender, passport information, and visa type.
• Program information: This includes details about the exchange program or internship, including the program name, start and end dates, program description, and objectives.
• Financial information: This includes information about the student’s or intern’s financial support, including the estimated cost of their stay, funding sources, and any scholarships or financial aid received.
• Insurance information: This includes the requirements and details regarding health insurance coverage for the student or intern during their stay in the United States.
• Issuing authority information: This includes the date of issuance, the name of the authority issuing the DS-2019, and the signature of the responsible officer.

Upon receiving the DS-2019, it is important to check the contents for accuracy. If there are any errors, you should submit the correct information to request a reissue.

If your DS-2019 has the “subject to two-year home residency requirement” (You are subject to two year home residency requirement, or section 212(e)) on it, you are not eligible to change to a green card, work visa (H1B, L-1), or fiancé visa (K Visa) in the United States unless you fulfill the requirement of residing in your home country for at least two years or apply for a J-1 waiver (DS-3035).

Transitioning from J-1 to F-1:
Even if you are subject to the section 212(e) restriction, you do not need to apply for a waiver when transitioning from J-1 to F-1. However, the restriction does not automatically disappear and you would still need to obtain a waiver in the future when applying for an H1B or a green card.

Apply for a U.S. Visa

The following describes the application process for F visas.

DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application

Required Documents for US Visa

• DS-2019: the SEVIS ID is located at the top right of the DS-2019.
• A digital copy of a photo that meets U.S. visa standards (5×5 cm)
• Address and phone number in the U.S. (if the accommodation has not yet been arranged, you can use the school’s address)
• The English names and birthdates of your parents as they appear on their passports
• The English names and addresses of two friends (who are not related to you)
• Social media account usernames used in the past five years

Schedule An Appointment for Visa Interview

Before scheduling an interview for a visa, you need to pay the visa application fee and SEVIS I-901. These two fees are separate. The visa application fee is paid when you create a personal profile in the visa online system and print out a payment slip to pay at the post office (be sure to keep the receipt), and then use the number on the receipt to schedule an interview. The SEVIS fee is paid online, and remember to print the payment receipt after paying.

In-person Visa Interview

On the day of the visa interview, arrive at the designated time. Small electronic devices (such as mobile phones and tablets, but not laptops) are allowed, but bags larger than 18x14x8 inches are not permitted. It’s best not to bring any bags at all, as the facility does not provide a place to store personal belongings, so you’ll need to find somewhere to store your items beforehand. The visa officers at AIT understand Chinese, but you should still respond in English. Be careful not to express any intention to immigrate, such as wanting to work or stay in the US, as this can lead to an immediate visa refusal when applying for a J visa.

After you’ve made your appointment online, you can find a list of required documents on the appointment confirmation. While they may not all be necessary, it’s recommended to bring them all. Additional documents, like a household registration transcript, can be in Chinese.

⭐Required Documents

• Passport valid for the duration of your intended stay
• Interview appointment confirmation
• DS-160 confirmation
• Photograph that meets US visa specifications (5×5 cm)
• Post office receipt for the visa application fee
• Receipt of SEVIS I-901 fee payment
• DS-2019

✅Supporting Documents

• All old passports
• Household Registration (if you have changed your name)
• Documents demonstrating strong financial, social, and family ties to your home country that will compel you to return to your country after your program of study in the United States ends.
• Financial and any other documents you believe will support your application and which give credible evidence that you have enough readily-available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study and that you have access to funds sufficient to cover all expenses while you remain in the United States.
• Photocopies of bank statements will not be accepted unless you can also show original copies of bank statements or original bank books.
• If you are financially sponsored by another person, bring proof of your relationship to the sponsor (such as your birth certificate), the sponsor’s most recent original tax forms and the sponsor’s bankbooks and/or fixed deposit certificates.
• Academic documents that show scholastic preparation. Useful documents include school transcripts (original copies are preferred) with grades, public examination certificates (A-levels, etc.), standardized test scores (SAT, TOEFL, etc.), and diplomas.

Administrative Processing

If your visa application is not approved or denied during the visa interview, it means your case will undergo administrative processing, commonly known as AP or check. Certain applicants involved in sensitive fields such as AI or viruses may require additional administrative review. In general, this process takes about a month or even longer, but in most cases, it can be completed within 60 days after the interview.

It is not recommended to plan to travel abroad within a month after the visa interview to avoid potential administrative processing delays that could prevent you from leaving.

Passport Retrieval

You can check the status of your visa application here. Typically, passports are returned within a week of visa approval via courier service. If there is an AIT-designated courier handling center near your location (e.g., SF Express), you may consider collecting your passport from that center. It is cheaper, faster, and offers more flexible pick-up times. Unless your visa is denied on the spot, once approved or undergoing administrative processing, AIT will temporarily hold your passport. However, if your case enters administrative processing, the wait time may be as long as a month or more. Therefore, for peace of mind, it is advisable not to plan to travel abroad within a month after the visa interview, as you may not have your passport during that time.

Dependent Visa

J-2 visa is the visa category for dependents of J-1 visa holders.

Eligibility

Spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21.

Parents are not eligible for the J-2 visa. If parents need to visit the United States, they would need to apply for ESTA or B visas.

Required Documents

• DS-2019 for the dependent: This must be obtained by the J-1 visa holder from their school or institution.
• Proof of relationship: Original marriage certificate, birth certificates of children, etc.
• Visa fees are required, but the SEVIS I-901 fee is not required.
• If the dependent plans to apply for the visa at a later date, a copy of the J-1 visa holder’s visa must be provided during the application.

Important Notes

• Dependents with J-2 visas can enter and exit the United States independently and are not required to enter and exit with the J-1 visa holder.
• J-1 visa holders cannot enter the United States before the J-2 visa holder’s first entry.
• J-2 visas do not have to be applied for simultaneously with the J-1 visa but cannot be obtained before the J-1 visa.
• If applying for visas or entering the United States together, both the J-1 and J-2 applicants will be interviewed by an officer/immigration official together.
• The visa expiration date for J-2 will coincide with the J-1 visa expiration.
• With the submission of Form I-765 after obtaining permission from USCIS, J-2 visa holders can work in the United States, and work authorization needs to be renewed annually.
• J-2 visa holders can attend schools up to the junior high level. For education at high school or above, they need to apply for an independent F-1 visa.

Frequently Asked Questions